In a momentous development, the United Kingdom has formally reentered the European Union's esteemed Horizon Europe research funding program, signalling a revival of international scientific collaboration. The joint announcement by the European Commission and the UK government marks a pivotal step forward, opening the doors for UK-based organizations to actively participate in or spearhead consortia as part of the 2024 Horizon Europe Programme.
This move follows an "agreement in principle" reached between the UK and the European Commission, putting an end to years of uncertainty stemming from the UK's withdrawal from the EU in early 2020. The agreement grants UK scientists access to the substantial €95 billion research funding program, reinstating a crucial source of grants that had been inaccessible since the Brexit decision.
Importantly, the UK will not need to resort to its contingency "Plan B," a proposal put forth by Science Minister George Freeman in July 2022 to allocate contributions earmarked for Horizon to a domestic funding scheme. Concerns were raised by experts about the potential lack of seamless international collaboration that Horizon facilitates.
The announcement has been met with relief by scientists and science groups in the UK. Daniel Rathbone, Deputy Executive Director of the Campaign for Science and Engineering, expressed, "It couldn't be better news." However, there is an acknowledgement that the delays have caused damage and created distrust, requiring a few years for a full recovery, as noted by Kieron Flanagan, a science policy researcher at the University of Manchester.
Commencing from the beginning of the upcoming year, the UK will rejoin Horizon Europe as an associated country, contributing approximately €2.43 billion annually for access to the scheme. Additionally, the UK will rejoin Copernicus, the EU's Earth observation program, contributing €154 million, further solidifying its commitment to global scientific initiatives.
Horizon Europe, boasting a budget of €95.5 billion for 2021-27, stands as the EU's flagship funding program for research and innovation, addressing critical challenges such as climate change, digital transformation, and health. The UK's renewed association with Horizon Europe is expected to restore the UK's recognized expertise in leading scientific consortia, offering a renewed platform for local scientists and attracting talented hires.
Article by Nyokabi Wanjiku
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